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Unsafe disposal of medical waste poses a threat to Theni residents

THENI: Unsafe disposal of hospital waste here is a heath hazard for residents, rag pickers and sanitary workers, besides being a threat to the environment.

At present, road margins, street corners and a drainage canal passing along Madurai-Theni National Highway in the town serve as dumping ground for hospital waste.

The National Highway houses several private hospitals. With no incinerator facility, some of the hospitals dispose of hospital waste, mostly hazardous, at street corners and on road sides.

Used syringes, blood-stained bandage cloth and cotton waste, needles and used hand gloves are scattered along with domestic waste on the road.

The garbage dump becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes and flies and attracts stray dogs and pigs. Stray dogs transport blood-stained bandages and cotton cloth from the dumps to other places, residents complain.

The drainage canal passing along the highway is also used to dump hospital waste.

In the recent rain, used syringes and gloves were seen floating in the clogged drainage canal. The most affected are sanitary workers, both men and women, and innocent rag pickers, who do not use protective gloves to pick rags.

Municipal officials have expressed grave concern over unsafe disposal of hospital waste. The Theni Municipality has advised private hospitals to dispose of the waste safely and not dump it in public places.

The municipal officials said that they would serve notices to the hospitals that fail to obey the order on safe disposal of medical waste.

The district administration issued guidelines to hospitals on safe disposal of medical waste last year.

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